A doctor utilized the health-monitoring capabilities of an Apple Watch to assist a woman facing breathing difficulties during a flight. The device’s blood oxygen sensor, a feature no longer available on recent models, played a crucial role in the emergency response.
During a flight from the UK to Italy on January 9, a 70-year-old British woman began experiencing breathing issues. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the flight crew sought assistance, and fortunately, a National Health Service (NHS) doctor named Rashid Riaz was on board. Dr Riaz, aged 43, inquired about the availability of an Apple Watch to monitor the woman’s health.
Using the health-monitoring features of the Apple Watch, Dr. Riaz specifically utilized the blood oxygen feature, which measures the oxygen levels carried by red blood cells. Low levels of oxygen are often associated with respiratory problems. The Apple Watch played a vital role in alerting Dr Riaz to the woman’s low oxygen levels and revealed her history of heart issues.
Dr. Riaz credited the Apple Watch for helping him identify the patient’s low oxygen saturation levels, emphasizing the significant role of the wearable device during the in-flight emergency. He immediately requested an on-board oxygen cylinder from the flight staff. This allowed him to monitor and stabilize the woman’s oxygen levels until the plane safely landed in Italy an hour later.
Reflecting on the incident, Dr Riaz highlighted the potential of basic devices like the Apple Watch to enhance emergency responses during flights. Despite its effectiveness in this critical situation, it’s important to note that Apple’s blood oxygen app is not officially intended for medical use, as stated on the company’s website. Apple removed this app from the Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watches due to a patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo. This decision followed a temporary suspension in the sales of these Apple models last month, which was later lifted under specific conditions agreed upon by Apple. For more information, stay tuned to the IncBasil Website.
